Cinco de Mayo

Fast forward a couple days and we had our first kiss. We were alone at his house just watching TV and talking, and it happened just like the movies. It got quiet, we both looked at each other, and he moved slowly in for a kiss. It was FANTASTIC. I swear fireworks should have been going off all around me.

May 4th was Avery's 21st birthday and we had a super fun Cinco de Mayo themed birthday celebration at Joe's house. We had mini sombreros, mustaches, and minion cupcakes made by Paige. We played twister, had a dance party and it was a genuinely good time.

I remember sitting on the kitchen counter next to Shelby, Paige, and Avery and again my face gave me away. We were talking about girlie stuff and they asked me if Joe and I had kissed and I smiled from ear to ear. They thought it was so weird because we have all been friends for so long, but at the same time they were happy for both of us.

Can I Call You?

So I'm not sure of the exact night...it could have been the night after New Girl, but there was a bunch of people over at Joe's and it was getting late so I decided to head home.

Soon after I left I received a text from Joe saying something along the lines of, "I really wanted to talk to you tonight, but never got a chance. Can I call you?" So, I get home and I'm in bed and he calls. He's nervous and quiet and a little awkward and he says something like, "If you can't tell I really like you." I WAS SO HAPPY! We talked for a long time about my breakup (it was only about 3 weeks ago), how I had to go back to school, and many other details of our lives. He didn't officially ask me to be his girlfriend that night, but it was definitely a turning point and now we were both on the same page.

New Girl

The day after the parade we had a lazy Sunday huddled up on the couch with friends and watched the entire first season of New Girl. Joe and I secretly held hands under that blanket the entire time.

I could have died with happiness right then and there. But it gets better...

The Beginning of Something Great

So it's late April 2012, I'm spending every chance I have at Joe's house before I have to go back to Tallahassee for summer classes. I talked to him more in those 2 weeks than I did probably in 4 years. We were both a little awkward and unsure of what we were doing, but I think we both knew that this was the beginning of something great.

It's parade night. We headed to Bank of America with a group of great friends to watch one of the only exciting things in Bradenton--the Desoto Grand Parade. I was sitting next to Chelsea and she started asking me questions about my breakup. She asks me if there is something going on with a particular ex-boyfriend of mine and I immediately say, "no, there's someone else," and to my surprise she says, "is it Joe?" I get the biggest silliest grin on my face and there is no denying my answer. It probably wasn't hard for any of our friends to figure out that something was going on. We were never far a part. We sat right next to each other and followed each other around.

So it ended up pouring down rain and we hid under the drive-thru of the bank until it stopped, caught the end of the parade, and then headed back to Joe's house.

So Who is This Guy?

I met Joe in high school, probably our sophomore or junior year. We still try and remember how we met. I think it was through Kathryn or Tyler who were both mutual friends. Joe's house was the place to be! You would walk into a warm welcome from his amazing Mom and be offered as much food as you could possibly eat. His parents truly enjoyed having all of us crazy kids around.

So, I spent many days at the Clemmons' household just hanging out, playing airsquare in the backyard, eating, watching movies, or just laughing hysterically. Joe was always sitting by his computer chair playing music. He kept to himself and was very quiet. All the time I spent at his house I never had a true conversation with him, but he was such a popular kid! We became pretty close--or as close as you can get without really knowing anything about each other. Some of my greatest high school memories involve Joe when we were just friends, but I will elaborate on some of those later!

He was kind, goofy as heck, adored his family, and was a great friend!

My Perfect Man

On Easter morning in 2012 I woke up and ended a four year relationship with a guy I thought I would marry one day. I was single for the first time in eight years. WOW!

Soon after my breakup I created a list of my standards--something I should have done before I even started dating. Here is the exact list I created:

• Christian
• Tall, dark, Handsome :)
• Has plans for the future
• Respects his parents
• Big family
• lives his values
• loyal
• honest
• respectful
• loves the seminoles
• Knows how to fish
• Dog lover
• likes to read
• Movie enthusiast
• Likes to travel
• Knows how to cook

While sitting in my bed in my room at the sorority house I created this list. Sam and Gunna were in the room and I looked at them and said, "I'm going to date Joe." Well...I hadn't really even seen or talked to Joe in probably a couple years, but I was sure that he would be perfect. Spring semester was almost over and I had a couple weeks at home before summer classes started. For those two weeks I spent every single day with Joe. I would be the first one over at his house in the evenings and the last one to leave. He was sweet, quiet, and a true gentleman. He fit everything on my list! (except he doesn't like to read)